10 questions with Jim Loftis

Jim Loftis sat in Ed Stewart American Legion Post No. 803 on West Lane, sharing his scrapbook that contains memories from the 14 months he served in Vietnam.

Lori Gilbert

Jim Loftis sat in Ed Stewart American Legion Post No. 803 on West Lane, sharing his scrapbook that contains memories from the 14 months he served in Vietnam.

There's currency, both Vietnamese and American military, photographs he took - with a 35 millimeter camera, and after it was stolen, an instamatic - and a plastic card with the years 1970 and 1971 printed on it. It is on that card he blocked out his time of service, Oct. 11, 1970-Dec. 9, 1971.

Loftis, 62, received a draft notice but was attending classes at San Joaquin Delta College and earned a deferment. A night of partying with friends landed him in jail with 14 counts against him, including resisting arrest and assaulting an officer. Judge John Cechini offered him two months in jail - and a record - or military service. The 1968 Franklin High School graduate, who was born and raised in Stockton, opted for the latter and two days later was in the Army.

Loftis was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, second brigade of the 506th regiment. A member of the infantry, he spent time patrolling the jungles and later was assigned to mortars, landing him in base camps along the northernmost mountains near the demilitarized zone.

"That shows you what Agent Orange does," Loftis said, pointing to a photo of dead, leafless trees. "That's what's left of the vegetation. They sprayed it around all of the base camps. I'd be out in the jungle at night time and get drenched. I haven't had too many medical issues."

One of the lingering effects, though, was jungle rot, a foot condition caused by the wet, humid conditions. He didn't get over it, he said, until 1983, the year he married his wife, Pennie.

When his 14 months were up and he returned to the U.S., Loftis felt the pain many Vietnam veterans experienced. Having fought in an unpopular war, they were shunned, or worse, pelted with verbal lashings. Loftis didn't share his experiences early on, but he did join the Veterans of Foreign Wars, whose local headquarters are in Stockton Memorial Civic Auditorium.

"That was because at the time, (University of the Pacific) played basketball at the Civic, and at halftime I could take my buddies to the (VFW) bar," he said.

A few years later, Loftis joined the American Legion and remains an active member. A retired machinist, he loves to cook and prepares meals for Post social events as well as fundraisers. He recently whipped up his own spaghetti sauce for a dinner that raised $1,400. He also marinated and cooked the crab for the Post's crab feed in March, and will fix meat loaf, mashed potatoes and green beans for the Post's "parents" celebration, the dinner falling between Mother's Day and Father's Day.

Loftis served as post commander last year, and is now the second vice commander. He answered 10 questions on the eve of Memorial Day.

Question: What did you accomplish or want to accomplish as commander?

Answer: I wanted to get back on track with our money. We were losing money, and I wanted to donate more to veterans organizations. It was a matter of staying on top of things. I wanted receipts for everything. I went to the bank every week with the finance officer. I was just diligent. At the end, I was up about $7,000.

Q: The Post is sponsoring an American Legion baseball team for the first time in four years. What does that mean to you?

A: I played ball here when I was a kid. That's why I joined the Post. It feels good for the baseball team to take off again. The money was just sitting there (in an account reserved for a baseball team). You had to have so many teams in the district and there weren't enough teams, but now a team from Franklin is playing out of the district. Teams from Sacramento are coming here to play. They just want to play ball.

Q: When you joined, what was your sense of what an American Legion post would be about?

A: I was always patriotic. When I first got drafted, my girlfriend wanted me to go to Canada and I said, 'No way, Jose.' Now that I'm older, I like to support all veterans. We donate to veterans organizations. At Christmas time we donate to needy veterans families. We bring them a two-week supply of food.

Q: What do veterans have in common, beyond military service?

A: It's just what you went through together. I want people here who will help young vets coming back now. That makes a difference to me, whoever donates their time. These young kids deserve a lot more credit than when I served. I don't know if I could go back for three tours, four tours. The generation now is doing more than past generations. We donate money to organizations for them, but they don't come in very often.

Q: Why don't they join?

A: The feel they don't have anything in common with a bunch of old farts. When I came in here they were all World War II veterans and I had nothing in common with them. A few guys took me under their wing.

Q: What's the best effect serving in the military had on you?

A: I think I was more disciplined than I was growing up. I had more honor, I like things to be right.

Q: What did Memorial Day mean to you as a kid?

A: Nothing. It was a day off from school.

Q: What does it mean now?

A: Memorial Day is a time to show all your respect to veterans, past, present, future.

Q: How do you spend Memorial Day?

A: We have two (gun salutes), one downtown at 8:30 (a.m.) and then we go to the rural cemetery at 11 (a.m.). We have an open house (at the Post) for veterans and we serve lots of food, sandwiches, salads, beans. It's an honor to be part of it. I wear my honor guard uniform.

Q: On a lighter note, what's your favorite movie? It doesn't have to be a war movie.

A: I like "Casablanca." My favorite war movie is "The Deer Hunter." I can relate to it. My favorite comedy is "Modern Problems." I like Chevy Chase in that one.